The Conversation | Gene Hackman, John Cazale | One gem: one lady between two giants

The Conversation | Gene Hackman, John Cazale | Listen to "The Conversation"

DVDs:

The Conversation

	The Conversation Gene Hackman, John Cazale Paramount, 2000 average customer review:based on 121 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

One gem: one lady between two giants

A Cannes' winner among other virtues, this film is like the fourth symphony of Beethoven: a princess between two power muscle men.
In fact the godfather I and II literally absorbed and in a certain way detoured, (together with Appocalyse now) the attention about this movie.
A genuine masterpiece that confirms the status of Mr. Coppola to the highest rank in the cinema's story.
Hcakman has never been best.

Listen to "The Conversation"

"The Conversation" is director Francis Ford Coppola's film made after "The Godfather". It stars Gene Hackman, whose previous movie was the Oscar winning "The French Connection".

The movie is entirely focussed on Gene Hackman's character, "Harry Caul", who is a professional eavesdropper, and the conversation he and his assistants have surreptitiously recorded between Cindy Williams of "Lavern and Shirley" fame, and Frederic Forrest, who subsequently plays "Chef" in "Apocalyse, Now".

Although the first few minutes makes us think this is some kind of whodunnit thriller, which it is ultimately is, it also becomes a psychological drama. After listening to the tapes, Harry thinks it's just a boring conversation without significance, and turns it in to the client's assistant, Harrison Ford ("Indiana Jones"), who warns Harry not to get involved because the tapes have dangerous information in it. Harry is now suspicious and takes the tapes back.

Harry now re-analyzes the tapes using homemade equipment, and discovers a line of dialog that was covered up by music in the original recording. He continues to analyze it, but his interpretation is wrong, believing someone might have died as a result of his work.

FF Coppola, in his commentary, informs us some of the inspiration for the movie came from the famous movie "Blow Up", in which a photographer believes he has discovered a murder accidentally captured in his pictures at a park. In "The Conversation", the visual photograph is replaced by the audio conversation. (I only gave "Blow Up" 1 star, and felt it was tedious, and silly in many parts).

The movie now is mostly about Harry, who is a very suspicious loner (4 locks on his door), apparently has no personal belongings other than a stereo, saxophone and some trinkets including a plastic Virgin Mary figurine. He has no car, and an unlisted phone number. He wears a grey translucent raincoat, even on nice days. He does have some interaction with other eavesdroppers and goes to an eavesdropper's trade show (a real event), but has few friends (he even loses his lady friend). He is now consumed by the tape which gets him in to trouble with Harrison Ford and the actual client, played by Robert Duvall. They steal the tapes back from Harry's office, but pay off Harry with $15,000.

The final scene is amazing. Hopefully without giving too much away, after Harry learns the truth, he now finds himself under surveillance, and his paranoia gets the best of him. A fantastic scene.

Excellent photography which on many occasions uses a static camera which allows the actors to move into or out of the scene.

DVD has a commentary by director FF Coppola, another by editor and sound designer Walter Murch, a decent behind-the scenes, a trailer, and set up options. "The Conversation" is great all-around, and was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Sound and Writing.

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AWESOME

'The Conversation' is one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made and is one of the best movie I have ever seen. This is Francis Ford Coopola at his absolute best, slowly and subtley building tension with each passing minute until your nerves cannot take it anymore. The story is about an electronics expert who is asked to tape record a conversation between a man and a women in a city park. To tell you anything more about the plot would be both a shame and a crime. Watch it alone and with the lights off. It will stay with you for a long time.

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Outstanding work!

In between Godfather films, Francis Ford Coppola made this masterpiece. There are many actors that would go on to bigger and better things. Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, John Cazale to name a few. But it's Gene Hackman's show, who gives his best performance since the French Connection. A classic!!

The Commentaries Embellish This DVD

This is an excellent piece of filmaking. Very, very underated to date although many of the Amazon posts catch this piece of story telling. Like the parallel editing sequence that MADE the end of Godfather 1, really kill (pardon the pun) at least according to Robert Evans (The Kid Stays in the Picture)-it is interesting to note that this particular new editor of "The Conversation"-contributed alot of great ideas to the story as well as working on the sound mixing. FFC was off working on Godfather II, so perhaps the Editor has a little more freedom and time to work his magic. Funny-most of the workers of the young studio were non-union so he could not even be credited as a picture or sound Editor. Famous Director of Photography Haskell Wexler was "let go" by Francis very early on and replaced. This action gave the film a superior look, for the theme of the film. You have to love the retro vibe of all that electronic tape gear in the digital age we now live. The visual look is crisp and stunning. If you view this DVD-watch BOTH commentaries. The haunting piano melody over the DVD Menu and that appears throughout the story-is worth appreciation alone. I actually sat down and counted out both sets of machine gun triplets in what is a rather dreamy piece of solo piano. As many have said already-this belongs in your DVD library. And let's not forget the early work here of Harrison Ford-complete with scar on his chin; Cindy Williams; Robert Duvall and Teri Garr. Enjoy and relish. People ARE watching and listening. Even Gene Hackman's sax has "ears."

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